Accommodations for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
If you’re a special education teacher working with students who have emotional and behavioral disorders, you know that accommodations are key to helping them succeed. But what accommodations are best for these students? In this blog post, you will learn about accommodations for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) that have proven to be effective for students.
Remember, it is extremely important to collect data on what accommodations are suitable for each student. It is oftentimes trial and error to determine what are the most effective strategies for each student. This is not an exhaustive list but rather ideas and suggestions for the first phase of the process in deciding how to help students succeed.
ENCOURAGE POSITIVE BEHAVIORS
One of the most important accommodations for students with EBD is to provide them with a positive and structured environment. This means discouraging negative behavior while rewarding appropriate behavior. Some ways to do this include setting clear rules and expectations, providing positive reinforcement when students display good behavior, and using a token economy system to reward positive behaviors.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS-PARTICIPATING IN CLASS
Another important accommodation for students with EBD is to encourage them to participate in class. This means giving them opportunities to answer questions, offer their opinions, work with their peers, and complete assignments.
Examples of accommodations and modifications are:
- providing clear instructions
- breaking down tasks into smaller steps
- offer choices when able
- give students extra time to complete assignments.
Making class participation an effective part of normal circumstances, will shift students’ focus off their disability, and increase their tendency to strive for better grades.
PROVIDE PROPER ASSIGNMENTS
It’s important to give students with EBD assignments that are within their abilities and that match their educational level. Additionally, the types of accommodations in their IEP and individualized education program can be provided to help these students succeed.
Some examples of accommodations that have been found to be effective for students with EBD include:
– Testing accommodations such as extended time on tests, and small group testing environment
-Use of a calculator on math tests and homework
-Extended time on assignments that are in the general education curriculum
– Movement breaks as needed: use a pass system for breaks
– Offer choices: for example, students can demonstrate comprehension of a subject by handing in a traditional paper, video, or poster, etc.
– Preferential seating arrangements
– Frequent check-ins with the teacher
–Alternative seating such as wiggle cushions or exercise ball seating
ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY – ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS
It’s important for students with EBD to be held accountable for their behavior and actions. This means making sure they understand the consequences of their choices. Some ways to do this include:
– Having clear rules and expectations in place
– Providing immediate feedback to the student
-Use non-verbal cues or a code word to communicate inappropriate behavior
– Encouraging the student to take ownership of their actions
– Imposing consequences for severe inappropriate types of behavior
Self Regulation Triggers and Calming Tools
ENCOURAGE STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS TO PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Many students with EBD struggle with social interactions. It can be helpful to encourage them to participate in social activities, such as lunchtime groups, class discussions, or extracurricular activities. This can help them to develop their social skills and make friends. With satisfactory interpersonal relationships in hand, students can hope to avoid a general pervasive mood of unhappiness.
Accommodations or modifications for social skills could possibly include:
- small group work
- lunch time with small number of peers
- Seat the student close to a positive role model
- provide additional personal space between desks
- partnering with a peer to encourage social skills.
Making Friends Social Stories for Girls AND/OR Boys – Flexible and Editable
WORK WITH COLLEAGUES, COUNSELORS, OR PSYCHOLOGISTS
If you are having difficulty managing a student with EBD, don’t hesitate to ask for help from your colleagues or school administration. There are many resources available to help educators support students with EBD. If a student’s emotional or behavioral problems are causing intense difficulty in the classroom, it may be necessary to seek help from a counselor or school psychologist.
Counselors or psychologists can provide interventions, therapy, and guidance to help the student deal with their emotions and behavior. They might also be able to give students the peace of mind they need to focus on their academic subjects.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS-CALM ENVIRONMENT AND SCHOOL ROUTINES
There are a few things that can be done in the classroom to help accommodate students with emotional and behavioral disorders. One of the most important is to create a calm and organized environment cutting down on emotional disturbances. This can be done by:
– Putting up calming decorations, such as pictures of nature or peaceful scenes
-Providing a calm classroom environment – Keep the classroom quiet during higher-level learning.
-Offering a calming corner in the classroom or hallway
– Keeping noise levels down
– Having a predictable schedule
-Noise cancelling headphones
-Dim lighting
– Having clear rules and expectations
– Providing structure and routine
-Use visual supports to reinforce the predictability of the routine
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH ANXIETY DISORDERS
Students with anxiety disorders can often find it difficult to focus in the classroom. Accommodations that may be helpful for students with this diagnosis include:
– Allowing them to take breaks as needed
– Giving them more time to complete tasks
-Weight daily work higher than tests of test anxiety is present
– Helping them prepare for tests and assignments
– Encouraging them to participate in social activities
– Putting them in a designated seat away from distractions
-Provide organizers for lockers/desk to help with predictability
– Using calming decorations, such as pictures of nature or peaceful scenes.
Read more about writing and students with anxiety here.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS-AUTISM SPECTRUM
Students with autism spectrum disorders often have difficulty with communication and social interaction. This is by no means an extensive list but help to provide basic suggestions. Accommodations that may be helpful for these students include:
– Preferential seating
– Allowing them to take breaks as needed
– Encouraging them to be social with their peers
-Helping them learn and identify their sensory needs
– Using visual supports to aid with communication, directions, and routine.
Read more on accommodations and students with autism.
Visual Supports: Schedules, Self-Regulation, & Classroom Inclusion
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DEPRESSION
Students with depression often have low energy levels and difficulty concentrating. It can have a profound effect on a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Accommodations that may be helpful for these students include:
– Allowing them to take downtime when necessary
– Encouraging them to talk and interact with peers
– Helping them with schoolwork and studying for tests
– Giving them longer periods of time to complete tasks
– Breaking assignments down into simpler steps
-Recognizing when health factors or physical symptoms may be causing an inability to focus.
–Self-monitoring checklists to stay on task
Self-Assessments and Checklists for Good Work Habits
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS- BIPOLAR DISORDER
Students with bipolar disorder can experience extreme mood swings, from mania to depression that can cause many school problems and conduct disorders. Students may feel intensely happy, and then quickly feel very depressed. Accommodations that may be helpful for these students include:
– Preferential seating
-Reduced workload during difficult times
– Allowing them to take a pause if the classroom environment is too much
-Encouraging positive behavior and social activities with peers
– Breaking tasks down into small, manageable steps
-Organizational supports
– Monitoring the variables in their moods and adjusting their accommodations as needed.
Accommodations can be an important tool in helping students with emotional and behavioral disorders succeed in the classroom. By understanding the condition and implementing appropriate accommodations, it is possible to create a learning environment that meets the student’s needs.
LEARNING TO KNOW WHICH ACCOMMODATIONS TO CHOOSE
Learn more about the difference between accommodations and modifications here.
5 Different Ways to Use Accommodations in the Classroom
Most importantly, teach your students how to learn about their strengths, challenges and accommodations to empower them to live a more independent life at school, home and the workplace. You can follow this 10 step process starting today with the Self-Advocacy for Students Workbook.
It is critical to determine what accommodations work for each student using data collection and feedback. Research indicates that this is often highly imprecise. The information can be presented differently, responses can change, the environment can be altered, time constraints can be eliminated and specialized tools/technology can help! Take the time to determine what is the best options for each individual student.
